بخش 156 - حکایت آن مهمان کی زن خداوند خانه گفت کی باران فرو گرفت و مهمان در گردن ما ماند

A guest came to a certain man at a late hour: he (the master of the house) made him (at home) like a collar on the neck.

He brought trays of food and showed him every courtesy; on that night there was a feast in their parish.

The man spoke secretly to his wife, saying, “To-night, mistress, make two beds.”

Lay our bed towards the door, and lay a bed on the other side for the guest.”

The wife replied, “I will do (this) service, I shall be glad (to do it). To hear is to obey, O light of mine eyes!”

The wife laid both the beds and (then) went off to the circumcision feast and stayed there (a long time).

The worthy guest and her husband remained (in the house): the host set before him a dessert of fruit and wine.

Both the excellent men related (to each other) their good and bad experiences (and sat) chatting till midnight.

Afterwards the guest, being sleepy and tired of talking, went to the bed that was on the opposite

side to the door.

From (a feeling of) shame (delicacy) the husband did not tell him anything or say, “My dear friend, your bed is on this side;

I have had the bed for you to sleep in laid over there, most noble sir.”

(So) the arrangement which he had made with his wife was altered, and the guest lay down on the other side (of the room). During the night it began to rain violently in that place, (and continued so long) that they were astonished at the thickness of the clouds.

(When) the wife came (home), she thought her husband was sleeping towards the door, and the uncle on the other side.

The wife immediately undressed and went to bed and kissed the guest fondly several times.

“O worthy man,” said she, “I was afraid (of this), and now that very thing has happened, that very thing has happened, that very thing!

The mud and rain have stranded thy guest (here): he is left on thy hands like Government soap.

How can he set out in this rain and mud? He will become a tax upon thy head and soul.”

The guest at once jumped up and said, “O woman, leave off! I have boots, I don't mind the mud.

I depart. May good be with you! May your spirit during its (earthly) journey never rejoice (even) for a moment,

So that it may the sooner go towards its native home! for this (worldly) pleasure waylays (the traveller) on his journey.”

When the distinguished guest started up and went off, the wife was sorry for (having spoken) those unsympathetic words.

Many a time the wife said to him, “Why, O Amír, if I made a merry jest, don't take offence.”

The wife's supplication and lament were of no avail: he departed and left them to grieve.

Afterwards the husband and wife clad themselves in blue: they deemed his (radiant) form to be a candle without a basin.

He was going (on his way), and by that man's candle-light the desert was isolated, like Paradise, from the darkness of night.

He (the husband) made his house a guest-house in sorrow and shame for this (calamitous) event.

In the hearts of them both, (coming) by the hidden way, the phantom of the guest was saying continually,

“I am the friend of Khadir: I would have scattered a hundred treasures of munificence (over you), but ’twas not your appointed portion.”